Empire creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong confirmed that next week’s episode of the hit series will serve as the series finale, due to the coronavirus outbreak.
There had been speculation that the hit Fox drama show would not be able to finish out its season in full, though the creators told Deadline they still are holding out hope to film the finale they originally wanted, at some point in the future.
However, with film and TV production shut down indefinitely due to the spread of COVID-19, there is no indication when the finale may be filmed.
Delayed finale: Empire creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong confirmed that next week’s episode of the hit series will serve as the series finale, due to the coronavirus outbreak
Still may happen: There had been speculation that the hit Fox drama show would not be able to finish out its season in full, though the creators told Deadline they still are holding out hope to film the finale they originally wanted, at some point in the future
‘I think there’s more to do with these characters, and I’m heartbroken we aren’t getting to shoot the finale we wanted — at least not yet,’ Daniels revealed.
Co-creator Strong added, ‘We had an ending for the series planned that we all loved, and hopefully someday we’ll be able to film it and give the series its proper conclusion.’
After the 15th episode aired, Love Me Still, a promo revealed that the 18th episode, Home Is On the Way, would be the finale, although the season was planned to be 20 episodes.
Heartbroken: ‘I think there’s more to do with these characters, and I’m heartbroken we aren’t getting to shoot the finale we wanted — at least not yet,’ Daniels revealed
The creators and their creative team had ultimately hoped to somehow find a way to film the finale, since the final season mystery doesn’t get fully solved until the finale, but it was not meant to be.
‘The episode airing on April 21 was never meant to be the series finale, but due to current events it will likely be the last one our fans will see for a while,’ Strong said.
While Home Is On the Way was the last episode to complete filming before the coronavirus shutdown, there was footage of Episode 19 filmed, some of which will be included to craft a more ‘satisfying finale’ for now.
Mystery: The creators and their creative team had ultimately hoped to somehow find a way to film the finale, since the final season mystery doesn’t get fully solved until the finale, but it was not meant to be
Daniels added that, ‘The success of Empire and bringing the Lyon family to broadcast television will always be one of the proudest achievements of my career.’
He added that the show is the ‘definition of breaking barriers’ while thanking stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, along with the, ‘amazing writers and tireless crew.’
Strong added, ‘We’re so proud of this show and of everything this incredible cast – led by Taraji and Terrence- and crew accomplished over six seasons.’
Lyon family: Daniels added that, ‘The success of Empire and bringing the Lyon family to broadcast television will always be one of the proudest achievements of my career’
Strong said that he hoped, ‘everyone tunes in to our last original episode, because the work done by our cast and crew deserves to be seen by the widest audience possible.’
He also gave a ‘big thank you’ to the Fox network for, ‘being our home for these many years’ in his statement.
The new series finale, Home Is On The Way is set in the midset of Bossyfest as Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) reflects on her life.
The Lyons family will also face ‘their biggest threat yet’ while Lucious (Terrence Howard), ‘finds it impossible to deny his feelings for Cookie.’
Impossible: The Lyons family will also face ‘their biggest threat yet’ while Lucious (Terrence Howard), ‘finds it impossible to deny his feelings for Cookie’